Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2026

A Behavioral Screen for Heat-Induced Seizures in Mouse Models of Epilepsy
Published on: July 12, 2021
Febrile seizures
Jayasri Srinivasan1, Katherine A Wallace, Ingrid E Scheffer
1Austin Health and Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria. jayasrisrinivasan@yahoo.com
Insights
Febrile seizures in children are common but usually benign. Focus on identifying fever causes, not the seizure itself, as the prognosis is generally good, though recurrence is possible.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
Background:
- Febrile seizures are common in children.
- Despite being self-limiting, they cause significant parental anxiety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the assessment and management of febrile seizures in children.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of febrile seizure assessment and management guidelines.
- Analysis of diagnostic indications and prognostic factors.
Main Results:
- Initial assessment should prioritize identifying fever source over seizure.
- Lumbar puncture is indicated for suspected meningitis; EEG and neuroimaging are not routine.
- Prognosis is good, with one-third experiencing recurrence.
Conclusions:
- Febrile seizures are often genetic with a low risk of later epilepsy.
- Counseling caregivers on seizure management is crucial.
- Prophylactic treatment effectiveness remains debated.
Background:
Febrile convulsions, or febrile seizures, are frequently encountered in paediatrics, and despite often being self limiting, these seizures strike fear in the hearts of patients' carers.
Objective:
This article reviews the assessment and management of febrile seizures in children.
Discussion:
The initial assessment of a child who convulses with fever should be directed at finding a cause for the fever, rather than the seizure itself, once the seizure has abated. A lumbar puncture should be performed if there is clinical suspicion of meningitis. Electroencephalograms and neuroimaging studies are not routinely indicated. Overall, febrile seizures carry a good prognosis, although one-third of children have recurrent attacks. Febrile seizures are genetic in origin. The risk of later epilepsy is small but increased if the child has a complex febrile seizure, neurological deficit, or a family history of epilepsy. Carers should be counselled in the management of seizures. The effectiveness of prophylactic treatment with medication remains controversial.
Related Concept Videos
Seizures l: Introduction
Seizures ll: Types
Seizures: Classification
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures originate from specific regions of the brain. These seizures are further sub-classified into two types:
Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
Epilepsy ll: Types
Types of Fever
Here are the different types of fever:

